Train describer system



1938- w. D. HAILES TRAIN DESCRIBER SYSTEM Filed Oct. 8, 1936 Exam. no.5 no x n dm P ATTORNEIY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED (STATES 2,138,855 TRAIN DESCRIBER SYSTEM William D. Hailes, Brighton, N. Y., assignor to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester,

Application October 8, 1936, Serial No. 104,684

9 Claims.

This invention relates to railway train route indicating apparatus and has for an object the provision of novel and improved means for transmitting from one location or station to another,

for instance from a first station along a track layout to .a second station along the track layout, descriptions or particulars relating to trains passing the first or transmitting station, the apparatus being such that the descriptions or indications may be received and displayed at the receiving station for the purpose of indicating the classes of approaching trains.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement over the prior application of Phinney, Ser. No. 98,545 filed August 29, 1936, and no claim is made herein to any invention shown in said Phinney application.

In general, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention, to provide means operable from the cab of a locomotive to selectively indicate the classes of various approaching .trains. More specifically, it is proposed to provide an arrangement of trackway apparatus and circuits responsive to Whistle signals of a locomotive to accordingly select and energize indication lamps at a remote location in accordance with the codes transmitted by the whistle blasts. It is also proposed to provide an arrangement of trackway apparatus and circuits which will be distinctively conditioned by a coded series of whistle blasts to select and light the train describer or indicator lamps.

It is further proposed to break up the whistle codes into two groups and for the engineman to sound, for example, one, two or three blasts while on one track circuit to register the group to which the train belongs and then sound one, two, three, four or five blasts while on a second track circuit to register the destination for which the train is bound.

It is further proposed to provide two whistle boards or markers along the track to indicate the points at which the engineman is to sound the two groups of whistle signals. This requires two track circuits, one track circuit associated with each whistle marker.

It is further proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a microphone, sensitized when the train is in either of the two track circuits, this microphone being associated with a line circuit leading to the distant location at which indications are to be displayed and responsive to the codes provided by the whistle blasts for transmitting this information over the line circuit.

In accordance with one feature of the inven tion, a switching relay is provided and operated over another line circuit for associating the circuits which are responsive to the whistle blasts, as repeated by the microphone, with a first and a second group of stepping relays to register the code elements of the first and second blasts of the train whistle.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will be obvious as the description thereof progresses, during which reference will be made to the accompanying drawing which discloses by way of example a circuit organization which may be used for practicing the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawing, a stretch of railway track is illustrated as comprising blocks or insulated track sections I and 2, block I including a track relay IT and block 2 including a track relay 2T. Associated with these two blocks are whistle posts IW and 2W for indicating to the engineman when the first and second group of signal blasts are to be sounded.

Microphone MC is energized from battery ET in series with choke coils [GK and 20K, with the variations in current established in response to the energization of the microphone by the whistle blasts energizing the primary winding of transformer lTF, for transmitting groups of alternating current impulses over line wires [4 and I6, where these lines are connected toamplifier AMP by means of transformer 2TB.

Relay TI? is a direct repeater of track relay 2T and is for the purpose of switching the ciru cuits controlled by code receiving relay F from the first bank of stepping relays to the second bank of stepping relays.

Slow acting relays SA and SB are picked up in sequence at the beginning of a cycle of operations initiated when a train enters block I and are dropped in sequence at the end of the cycle of operations terminated when the train leaves block 2.

The first bank of stepping relays comprises half-step relay WP and stepping relays IVI, IVZ and IV3. The second bank of stepping relays comprises half-step relay 2V]? and stepping relays ZVI, 2V2, 2V3, 2V4 and 2V5. Alarm bell AL is arranged to be energized at the end of each cycle of operation to call the operators attention to the fact that a train describer indication code is received.

The lamps illustrated in the right-hand portion of the drawing are selectively energized in Microphone MO is normally deenergized because of open back contacts 18 and 19 of relays IT and 2T. The amplifier, indicated by rectangle AMP, may be of any suitable type, but in this particular embodiment it is assumed that a vacuum tube amplifier is employed in which the filament and plate circuits are normally energized so that relay F controlled in the out-put of this amplifier is normally picked up.

When a train enters block I, track relay IT is dropped for energizing microphone MC over an obvious circuit. The first whistle code is sounded while relay IT is down and in response to the blast or blasts of the Whistle of this code, the diaphragm of microphone MC is vibrated to alternately increase and decrease the direct current flowing through the primary of transformer ITF, thereby inducing alternating current in the secondary of this transformer of a frequency proportional to the tone of the train whistle. Thus, groups of alternating current impulses in accordance with the number of whistle blasts are transmitted over lines l4 and It for impression on the in-put of amplifier AMP by Way of transformer ZTF. Each group of alternating current impulses applied to the in-put of amplifier AMP is effective to drop relay F, thus relay F responds by dropping at each Whistle blast.

It Will be assumed that the first code element or group comprises three blasts. Relay F is thus dropped three times, after which it remains picked up until receipt of the second element of the complete code. The dropping of relay F in response to the first blast of the first group closes a circuit for picking up relay SA at back contact ll. Relay SA sticks up over a circuit .extending from back contact l5 of relay 2Vl, front contact 13 and winding of relay SA Relay SA closes an obvious circuit for picking up relay SB at front contact ll. Since relay SA picks up and opens back contact 23 before relay SB picks up and closes front contact 2d, bell AL is not actuated at this time.

Relay IVP is now picked up over a circuit extending from front contact 25 of relay SA, back contact 26 of relay F, front contact 22 of relay ZTP, back contact 27 of relay WI and winding of relay IV'P to Relay IVP closes a first stick circuit for itself at front contact 28 which includes the above described pick-up circuit for this relay, but which is independent of back contact 26.

The picking up of relay F between the. first and second blast closes a second stick' circuit for relay IVP, extending from (-1-), front contact 25 of relay SA, front contact 26 of relay F, front contact 2! of relay 2TP, front contact 32 and Winding of relay IVP to The picking up of relay F between the first and second blasts closes a circuit for picking up relay IV! which extends from (-1-) front contact 29 of relay SA, front contact 30 of relay F, front contact 20 of relay 2TP, front contact 3| of relay lVP, back contact 33 of relay W2 and Winding of relay [VI to Relay lVl closes a the second and third blasts of the first group and closes a circuit for picking up relay IV2 which extends from front contact 29 of relay SA, front contact 39 of relay F, front contact 20 of relay 2TP, back contact 3| of relay IVP, back contact 36 of relay IV3, front contact 3'. of relay WI and winding of relay IV2 to Relay IV2 closes an obvious stick circuit for itself at front contact 38.

Relay F drops in response to the third blast of the first group and closes a circuit for picka ing up relay lVP which extends from front contact 25 of relay SA, back contact 26 of relay F, front contact 22 of relay ZTP, back contact 39 of relay IV3, front contact 48 of relay W2 and winding of relay IVP to The first and second stick circuits for relay IVP are again effective, but since these stick circuits are the same as previously described they will not be traced again.

During the interval following the third blast of the first group, relay F is picked up and a circuit is closed for picking up relay IV3 which extends from (-1-) front contact 29 of relay SA, front contact 38 of relay F, front contact 20 of relay 2TP, front contact 3! of relay IVP, front contact 33 of relay W2, and winding of relay 1V3 to Relay IV3 closes an obvious stick circuit for itself at front contact 4|.

During the interval between the first and. second group of whistle blasts, relay F remains up and relay SA remains stuck up by way of the previously described circuit including back contact E5 of relay ZVI, and by virtue of front contact ll of relay SA, relay SB remains energized for providing energy to the stick circuits for the stepping relays at its front contact 34.

The train next enters block 2 and drops relay 2T, which is effective to maintain the circuit for the microphone energized at back contact l9 irrespective of the condition of track relay IT. The opening of front contact l9 drops relay 2TP. The dropping of relay 2T? shifts the above-described controlling circuits from the first bank of stepping relays to similar controlling circuits for the second back of stepping relays, by means of contacts 20, 2| and 22. Since these controlling circuits for the second bank of stepping relays are exactly the same as those described for the first bank they have not been shown on the drawing. It will be understood that relay ZVP is shifted in position during the blasts of the second group by the dropping of relay F and that relays 2VI to 2V5, inclusive, are picked up in sequence during the intervals between the blasts of the second group by the picking up of relay F, in exactly the same manner as described for the operation of the first bank of stepping relays.

It is assumed that the second group comprises five blasts which are effective to pick up the five stepping relays of the second group. Upon the picking up of the first stepping relay of the second group (relay 2V!) the stick circuit for relay SA is opened at back contact l5 so that the energization of relay SA is dependent upon the interw in.)

mittent closure of back contact I! of relay F. Therefore, at the termination of the second group of blasts the prolonged energization of relay F and the consequent prolonged opening of back contact lldeenergizes and drops relay SA, which in turn drops relay SB. During the interval between the dropping of relay SA and the dropping of relay SB, alarm AL is energized for calling the operators attention to the fact that a train describer code is now being displayed.

The lower lamp of the group of fifteen lamps illustrated is energized over a circuit extending from back contact ll of relay SA, front contact 42' of relay IV3, front contact 43 of relay 2V5 and lamp H5 to The stick circuits for the first bank of stepping relays was previously described and it will be understood that similar stick circuits are provided for the second bank of stepping relays. When relay SB drops and opens its contact 34 the energization of the stepping relay stick circuits is made dependent upon closed contact 44 of cancelling button CB and front contact 45 of relay F. Therefore, the selected lamp is maintained energized until noted by the operator and released by the operation of button CB, which deenergizes the stick circuits for the stepping relays and restores the system to normal.

In the event that the code comprises two blasts in the first group, then it will be obvious that stepping relays lVi and IV2 of the first group will be picked up. This selects, at front contact 46 of relay [V2, the middle group of lamps selected by the contacts 54, G4, 14, 84 and 94 of the second relay group. Similarly, if only one blast is received in the first group, relay IVI of the first bank is picked up and the upper group of lamps is selected by front contact 41.

It will be apparent that any one of the five lamps of the lower group, when selected by relay IV3 being picked up, may be individually selected by contacts 43, 53, 63, 13 or 83 of relays 2V5 to 2Vl, respectively, in accordance with the number of blasts in the second group.

Similarly the second group of lamps are individually selected, when this group is selected by relay [V2, by contacts 54, 64, I4, 84 and 94 of relays 2V5 to 2V1, respectively. Likewise, when the upper group of lamps is selected by relay IVI these lamps are individually selected by contacts 55, 65, 75, 85 and 95 of relays 2V5 to ZVI, respectively.

Although a particular combination of three blasts in the first group and five blasts in the second group to provide a total of fifteen selections is disclosed, it will be understood that various combinations of blasts in the first and second groups may be provided for making up any code combination desired. It will be obvious that, by the provision of a third block (or more) and a third relay (or more) similar to relay 2TP, three (or more) groups of stepping relays may be operated in response to code combinations made up of three (or more) blasts of the locomotive whistle for increasing the number of indications provided materially.

Having thus shown and described a specific embodiment of the present invention and having more specifically pointed out a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that this should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the invention, nor should it be construed as illustrating the exact construction to be employed in practicing the invention, but that the specific form illustrated has been selected for the purpose of disclosing the principles and methods of practicing the invention, and that various changes and additions may be made to adapt the invention to particular problems encountered in practice, all without departing from the spirit thereof except as limited by the scope of th appended claims.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination, a plurality of indicators at one location selectively operable in response to a train whistle, a plurality of track circuits at another location, line wires interconnecting said locations, and a plurality of means cont-rolled over said line wires by said track circuits respectively and each responsive to a series of sound waves emitted by a train whistle while its track circuit is occupied for jointly selecting and oper ating one of said indicators.

2. In combination, a train indicator comprising a plurality of groups of lamps operable by a train whistle, a first track circuit and a second track circuit, means controlled by said first track circuit and responsive to a first series of blasts of said whistle for selecting one of said groups of lamps, and means controlled by said second track circuit and'responsive to a second series of blasts of said whistle for selecting one of the lamps in the selected group.

3. In combination, a train indicator comprising a plurality of groups of lamps operable by a train whistle, a first track circuit and a second track circuit, means controlled by said first track circuit and responsive to a first series of blasts of said whistle for selectively conditioning the circuits for one of said groups of lamps, means controlled by said second track circuit and responsive to a second series of blasts of said whistle for selecting a lamp in said selected group, and means responsive to a long pause following said second series of blasts for energizing the selected lamps.

4. In combination, a train indicator comprising a plurality of groups of lamps and an audible signal operable by a train whistle, a first track circuit and a second track circuit, means controlled by said first track circuit and responsive to a first series of blasts of said whistle for selecting one of said groups of lamps, means controlled by said second track circuit and responsive; to a second series of blasts of said whistle for selecting one of the lamps in said selected group, and means responsive to a long pause following said second series of blasts for energizing the selected lamp and said audible signal.

5. In a system for counting the number of locomotive whistle blasts sounded in separate groups, a plurality of indicators, a first counting device for counting the blasts in one group, a second counting device for counting the blasts in another group, train controlled means for automatically rendering said devices selectively responsive to said groups of blasts and means for selectively energizing one of said indicators in accordance with the joint condition of said counting devices.

6. In combination, a stretch of railway track having a plurality of track circuits, a plurality of groups of indication lamps, a micro-phone located adjacent the trackway and operable by train emitted sound waves, a response relay controlled by the operation of said microphone, a plurality of groups of counting relays each controlled by a track circuit for counting the operations of said response relay, means controlled by said groups of counting relays for selecting first a group of lamps and thena lamp in the selected group, and

means for energizing the selected lamp.

7. In combination, a stretch of railway track including two track circuits, a plurality of indication lamps divided into groups, a microphone located adjacent the trackway and operable by groups of blasts of a train whistle, a response relay controlled by the operation of said microphone, a first group of counting relays controlled by one of said circuits for counting the operations of said response relay in response to the blasts of a first group, a second group of counting relays controlled by the other of said circuits for counting the operations of said response relay in response to the blasts of a second group, means controlled by said first group of counting relays for selecting one of the groups of lamps, means controlled by said second group of counting relays for selecting a lamp in the selected group, and means for energizing the selected lamp.

8. In combination, a stretch of railway track including two track circuits, a plurality of indication lamps divided into groups, a microphone located adjacent the trackway and operable by groups of blasts of a train whistle, a response relay controlled by the operation of said microphone, a first group of counting relays controlled by occupancy of one of the track circuits for counting the operations of said response relay in response to the blasts of a first group, a second group of counting relays controlled by occupancy of the other track circuit for counting the operations of said response relay in response to the blasts of a second group, means controlled by said first group of counting relays for selecting one of the groups of lamps, means controlled by said second group of counting relays for selecting a lamp in the selected group, means for energizing the selected lamp, and an audible signal operated when a selected lamp is energized.

9. In a system for counting and indicating the number and arrangement of locomotive whistle blasts sounded in two separate groups, a first counting device for counting the number of blasts in one group, a second counting device for counting the number of blasts in another group, track circuit train controlled means for automatically rendering said counting devices respectively responsive to the said groups of blasts, a plurality of indicators, means whereby one of said indicators is selectively energized in accordance with the joint effect of the number of blasts in each of said groups, and means including a manually operable key for maintaining aselected indicator energized until said key is operated.

WILLIAM D. I-IAILES. 

